A 17-year-old-black girl, a slave named Anarcha Westcott is widely regarded as the mother and founder of gynecology after she underwent about 30 operations without anesthesia for the first treatment of vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula
Anarcha Westcott underwent painful operations to correct an abnormal connection between the vagina and bladder, which results in urine coming out of the vagina. She also had no control over passing out feces.
She was operated upon by James Marion Sim, who is referred to as the father of gynecology.
Anarcha Westcott’s travails started when she was sent into the delivery room and had prolonged labor that lasted three days. James Marion Sim, a physician was called in to assist. She later had a stillbirth and tears in her vagina and rectum – vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula.
These tears resulted in her having no control over passing urine and feces, which caused her to have excruciating pain from her uncontrollable bowel and urine movements flowing on her open wounds.
Sims performed 30 experimental, nonconsensual, operations without anesthesia on Anarcha before successfully closing the fistula and tears. During the operations, Anacha was given no anesthesia, which had recently become available.
The experimental procedures that Sims performed on Anarcha and other slaves brought about the spark of modern gynecological surgery the first-ever treatment for vesicovaginal fistulae.
However, Anarcha is regarded as the mother of gynecology, for without her strength, courage, and bravery, she would not have survived these painful procedures.